Warriors’ Winning Streak Snapped in Denver Despite Podziemski, Porzingis Performances
The Warriors’ winning streak snapped in Denver after a Sunday night loss at Ball Arena. Golden State fell 116-93 to the Nuggets. The visitors had a three-game run entering the matchup. Denver came in riding five straight victories.
Game summary
The Warriors led 53-46 at halftime. Denver dominated the third quarter, outscoring Golden State 40-21. Nikola Jokic propelled the comeback and the Nuggets took control for good.
The final margin was 23 points. The Warriors dropped to 36-39 and remain the Western Conference’s 10th seed. They return to the Bay Area to face the Spurs on Wednesday.
Key performances
Brandin Podziemski scored 23 points. He hit five of eight 3-pointers. Kristaps Porzingis also finished with 23 points and made all five of his triples.
Nikola Jokic posted 25 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Jamal Murray contributed 20 points. De’Anthony Melton missed all five of his shots and was scoreless.
Seth Curry returned to the active roster after eight games out. He played seven minutes and shot 0-for-1. Steph Curry remained sidelined with a runner’s knee.
Third-quarter swing
Jokic scored 10 points in the third quarter. He added five rebounds and four assists in that period. His run helped flip the game toward Denver.
Scoring context
The game featured notable Podziemski and Porzingis performances despite the loss. Porzingis recorded his fifth 20-point game as a Warrior. Those efforts could not overcome Denver’s third-quarter surge.
Incidents and fouls
Tensions flared late in the second quarter. With 9:57 remaining, Zeke Nnaji fouled Gary Payton II to stop a fastbreak. A physical exchange followed after L.J. Cryer bumped Jamal Murray.
Melton, Payton and Nnaji shoved during the confrontation. Each received technical fouls. Later, with 3:54 left in the quarter, Payton forearm-checked Peyton Watson on a rebound attempt and drew a flagrant foul.
Injuries and roster notes
Rookie Will Richard was ruled out with a left heel issue. Quinten Post exited in the second quarter after re-aggravating a sore right foot. Al Horford remained sidelined with a calf problem.
Kerr’s outreach
Coach Steve Kerr sent a handwritten letter to Toronto manager John Schneider after last season’s World Series finale, according to Filmogaz.com. Kerr acknowledged the sting of a tough loss and emphasized team character.
Kerr has led Golden State to four championships. He has also endured two Finals defeats, including the 2016 series loss after a 3-1 lead. He said coaches supporting coaches is important in the profession.
